Russia Attacks Ukraine - 23 Feb 2022 **Media Thread** NO DISCUSSION #2

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  • #361
Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, March 7 | Institute for the Study of War (understandingwar.org)
March 7, 3:00 PM EST

Russian forces are concentrating in the eastern, northwestern, and western outskirts of Kyiv for an assault on the capital in the coming 24-96 hours. The Russians are bringing up supplies and reinforcements as well as conducting artillery, air, and missile attacks to weaken defenses and intimidate defenders in advance of such an assault. It is too soon to gauge the likely effectiveness of any Russian attempt to complete the encirclement of Kyiv or to seize the city at this time. If Russian troops have been able to resupply, reorganize, and plan deliberate and coordinated simultaneous operations along the several axes of advance around and into the capital, they may be more successful in this operation than they have in previous undertakings. Operations near Kyiv in the past 72 hours have not offered enough evidence to evaluate that likelihood.

Russian troops in southern Ukraine continue to divide their efforts between attacks westward toward Mykolayiv and Odesa, attacks northward toward Zaporizhya, and attacks eastward toward Mariupol and Donbas. Failure to focus on any single line of advance has likely hindered Russian operations and will probably continue to do so. Russian troops in Kherson Oblast appear to be feeling their way around Mykolayiv, likely seeking to find a route across the Southern Bug River that would allow them to bypass Mykolayiv itself and resume their advance on Odesa. Those heading toward Zaporizhya currently lack the combat power likely necessary to encircle or take that large city. They could, however, set conditions for successful operations against Zaporizhya once reinforcements arrive following the fall of Mariupol and the opening of a wide land route westward from Donbas.

Key Takeaways
  • Russian forces are consolidating and preparing for further operations along the western and eastern outskirts of Kyiv, especially in the Irpin area on the west and the Brovary area on the east;
  • Ukrainian forces are challenging the extended Russian lines reaching from Sumy, which Russian forces have not yet taken, to the eastern outskirts of Kyiv;
  • Russian troops are likely attempting to bypass Mykolayiv and cross the Southern Bug upriver of that city to permit an advance on Odesa that will combine with an impending amphibious operation against that city; and
  • Russian forces are driving north from Crimea toward the city of Zaporizhya.
Tracker The Tracking Trackey (protopage.com)
 
  • #362
@assamtribuneoff

Union minister
@HardeepSPuri
on Tuesday confirmed that the evacuation process for Indian students stranded in the war-torn Ukrainian city of Sumy has started and they are being been taken in buses to Poltava.
 
  • #363
The Kyiv Independent on Twitter - 4 hours ago
These are the indicative estimates of Russia's losses as of March 8, according to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.


The Kyiv Independent on Twitter
⚡️Ukraine's military: As Russian invasion slows down, FSB is using tactical groups to intimidate and spread terror among civilians to crush Ukrainian resistance in Mykolaiv and Kherson regions.

The Kyiv Independent on Twitter
⚡️Yanukovych addresses Zelensky, urges him to stop fighting.
Ex-President Viktor Yanukovych, who lives in Russia since being ousted in 2014, asks Zelensky to “overcome his pride” and stop the war at any cost.
Yanukovych’s letter to Zelensky was published by the Russian media.

The Kyiv Independent on Twitter - 3 hours ago
⚡️21 civilians, including 2 children, killed in Russian attack on Sumy.
Russian forces bombed a residential neighborhood in Sumy in the early hours of March 8.

The Kyiv Independent on Twitter
⚡️Zelensky: "While Russians are to blame for the killings, responsibility is shared by those who for 13 days in their Western offices haven’t been able to approve an obviously necessary decision, who didn’t save our cities from these bombs and missiles – although they can."

The Kyiv Independent on Twitter
⚡️Zelensky: "International Committee of the Red Cross is forbidding us to use their emblem on the humanitarian mission vehicles.
It's very revealing. Some influential people would rather 'cross out' Ukraine."

The Kyiv Independent on Twitter
⚡️Zelensky: "If the world stands aside, he will lose itself forever.
Because there are some unconditional values. First of all, the right for life. This is what we are fighting for here, in Ukraine. This is what the world needs to protect."

The Kyiv Independent on Twitter - 35 minutes ago
The United Nations Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi earlier called the outflow from Ukraine "the fastest growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War II."

The Kyiv Independent on Twitter
⚡️Germany investigates Russian war crimes in Ukraine.
German Prosecutor General Peter Frank has opened an investigation into Russia's use of cluster munitions, shelling of residential buildings, gas pipelines, and nuclear waste disposal sites, the Spiegel reported.

The Kyiv Independent on Twitter - 7 minutes ago
⚡️Ukrainian General Staff: Belarus may be preparing for sending troops to Ukraine.
Belarus has regrouped its forces and deployed some of them to the Ukrainian border near the city of Brest and the village of Aleksandrovka in Gomel Oblast, the General Staff said on March 8.
 
  • #364
Ursula von der Leyen on Twitter - President of the @EU_Commission
On this #WomensDay my heart goes out to all Ukrainian women.

Standing for freedom.
Fighting on the frontline.
Protecting their loved ones.

The European Union is with you.

Amie Ferris-Rotman on Twitter - Reporter and Editor
A muted #InternationalWomensDay today in Lviv. “We don’t want to celebrate this Soviet holiday,” these students told me as they made camouflage nets for the front.
FNUy4LOXsAMRFlS


Alec Luhn on Twitter
@navalny's team says its repeated internet surveys in Moscow show a majority now view Russia as the aggressor in Ukraine & 79% want peace talks. "The Kremlin can see these dynamics as well, hence the nervousness, the desperate attempts to end the war"
 
  • #365
MAR 7, 2022
‘Beyond understanding’: Odesa braced to see if Putin attacks city of such resonance for Russians | Ukraine | The Guardian
The tourist cafes are behind barricades. The grand opera house is surrounded by a wall of sandbags. Tank traps block the approaches to the legendary Potemkin steps. Nobody in Odesa can quite believe that Vladimir Putin would launch an assault on this city, a place bound to Russia by family, literary and cultural ties, a place of almost mythical resonance for many Russians.

But then, Putin’s armed forces have done lots of things in recent days that seemed unthinkable just two weeks ago.

“I don’t know what kind of a 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬, idiot or 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬 you have to be to press the button for missiles to fall on Odesa,” said the city’s mayor, Gennady Trukhanov, in an interview at a building in the centre of the city where he has moved for security reasons. “It’s beyond the limits of my understanding.”

[,,,]
 
  • #366
[URL='https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2022/mar/08/ukraine-news-russia-war-vladimir-putin-volodymyr-zelenskiy-kyiv-russian-invasion-live-latest-updates']Russia-Ukraine war: Ukraine accuses Russia of breaking Mariupol ceasefire and shelling humanitarian corridor – live | World news | The Guardian[/URL]
3h ago0 5:39

The World Health Organization today warned that attacks on Ukrainian hospitals, ambulances and other health care facilities have increased “rapidly” in recent days and vital medical supplies are running low.

[...]

Europe regional director Hans Kluge said the agency is working to urgently get medical supplies to Ukraine. Among the supplies running low are oxygen, insulin, PPE, surgical supplies and blood products.

He said oxygen, children’s vaccines and mental health expertise were among their top priorities, as well as women’s needs.

[...]
 
  • #367
  • #368
MAR 8, 2022
AP Source: Biden to ban Russian oil imports over Ukraine war | AP News
President Joe Biden has decided to ban Russian oil imports, toughening the toll on Russia’s economy in retaliation for its invasion of Ukraine, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The move follows pleas by Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelenskyy to U.S. and Western officials to cut off the imports, which had been a glaring omission the massive sanctions put in place on Russia over the invasion. Energy exports have kept a steady influx of cash flowing to Russia despite otherwise severe restrictions on its financial sector.

[...]

The U.S. will be acting alone, but in close consultation with European allies, who are more dependent on Russian energy supplies. Natural gas from Russia accounts for one-third of Europe’s consumption of the fossil fuel. The U.S. does not import Russian natural gas.

[...]
 
  • #369
Gas prices are now the most expensive in US history, breaking record from 2008

After days of dramatically rising gas prices in wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the national average for a gallon of gas is now the highest in United States history, breaking the record that stood for nearly 14 years.

As of Tuesday morning, the cost of regular gas in the U.S. is $4.17, according to AAA, up from $4.06 on Monday. Last week, the average cost was $3.60.

The previous national average high was $4.11, set on July 17, 2008, according to AAA.
 
  • #370
In Photos: Fortress Kyiv (rferl.org)

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2A woman walks in front of a concrete blockade and anti-tank obstacles known as "Czech hedgehogs." The metal obstacles can stop light armored vehicles and remain effective even if knocked out of position by an explosion.

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3Members of Ukraine's Territorial Defense Forces at a Kyiv movie theater used as a base by the volunteer fighting force on March 7.

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5Members of the Territorial Defense Forces play checkers with Molotov cocktails in Kyiv on March 6. A reported 100,000 civilian volunteers have signed up to the Defense Forces since Russia launched a full invasion of Ukraine on February 24.

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6A Ukrainian serviceman at a bunker in a forest on the outskirts of Kyiv on March 6.

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13A volunteer waits for the end of curfew in the basement of a building in Kyiv on March 7. Thousands of Kyiv civilians are currently sheltering underground in basements that double as bomb shelters, and in the city's subway system, amid fears Russia will launch missiles into the center of the capital.
 
  • #371
Ukraine: Frozen stars send messages of support to girl singing Let It Go

Indina Menzel tweeted: "We see you. We really see you," alongside blue and yellow hearts, the Ukrainian flag colours.

The song's composer Kristen Anderson-Lopez also posted a message addressed to "Little Girl with the beautiful voice".

She wrote on Twitter: "My husband and I wrote this song as part of a story about healing a family in pain. The way you sing it is like a magic trick that spreads the light in your heart and heals everyone who hears it. Keep singing! We are listening!"

Josh Gad, who voiced Olaf the snowman, added: "My heart is overwhelmed. These poor children. These poor people. I want to hug and protect this and every other child in danger right now and I feel helpless."

Thousands of others have also responded to the video, including Star Wars actor Mark Hamill and singer Imelda May, who invited Amelia to sing with her on on stage when she was able to.

British TV host Holly Willoughby was visibly emotional while introducing the video on ITV's This Morning.

Ukrainian MP Lesia Vasylenko tweeted: "The courage of the children in shelters is mindblowing."
 
  • #372
34 min ago

''NATO must "ensure that conflict does not spread beyond Ukraine," says alliance chief
Live updates: Russia invades Ukraine (cnn.com)
NATO has a "responsibility to ensure that the conflict does not spread beyond Ukraine," said Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

Speaking during a joint press conference in Riga with the Latvian President Egils Levits on Tuesday, Stoltenberg remarked that the "suffering we now see in Ukraine is horrific."

We have a responsibility to ensure the conflict does not escalate and spread beyond Ukraine. That would be even more dangerous, destructive, and even more deadly. The situation could spiral out of control," Stoltenberg said.
In response to the situation and to "make sure there is no room for miscalculation in Moscow" NATO has "significantly strengthened" its presence in the eastern part of the alliance, Stoltenberg added.

"We have 130 jets at high alert. Over 200 ships from the high north to the Mediterranean, and 1000s of additional troops in the region," the NATO chief continued.

NATO will "protect and defend every inch of allied territory," Stoltenberg said.''
 
  • #373
The Kyiv Independent on Twitter
⚡️FM Kuleba: War crimes are part of Russia’s deliberate strategy.
Dmytro Kuleba wrote on Twitter that Russia holds 300,000 civilians hostage in Mariupol, a city in Donetsk Oblast, and prevents humanitarian evacuation despite agreements with the Red Cross mediation.

The Kyiv Independent on Twitter
⚡️WP: Belarus conducted phishing attacks against Ukraine, Poland.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, Ghostwriter hacking group in Belarus has tried to get credentials of Ukrainian officials and members of the Polish military, the Washington Post reported citing Google.
 
  • #374
Russia-Ukraine war: Ukraine accuses Russia of breaking Mariupol ceasefire and shelling humanitarian corridor – live | World news | The Guardian
2m ago 09:27

The United Nations has blocked staff from using the words “war” or “invasion” to describe the situation in Ukraine, reports the Irish Times.

The move, understood to have been communicated to UN staff in an email on Monday, is reportedly aimed at balancing political sensitivities after member state Russia also banned those words.

Staff are instead advised to refer to the war as a “conflict” or a “military offensive” - despite the fact that hundreds of civilians have been killed and two million residents forced to flee.

They were also banned from using the Ukrainian flag in personal or official social media accounts or websites.

[...]

4m ago 09:38

The British government is expected to make an announcement at around 4pm GMT today about how it plans to cut Russian oil and gas imports, reports Politico journalist Alex Wickham.

The prime minister, Boris Johnson, said yesterday that the world could not simply stop using Russian oil and gas but would have to speed up its transition away from it.

It comes as the US president, Joe Biden, is expected to announce a ban on Russian oil in remarks at 10.45am ET (3.45GMT).
 
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  • #375
MAR 7, 2022
A modern Churchill? Zelenskyy praised as war communicator | AP News
To a watching world, his message is this, in both his words and his resolute, sometimes haggard appearance: He stands as a mirror to the suffering and spirit of his people.

It appears to be getting through. Just days into the war engulfing his nation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is drawing historical comparisons as an effective and stirring wartime communicator — yet with a distinctly modern touch inflected by the sensibilities of live television and the personal feel of social media.

His baby-faced complexion is now usually puffy and pasty, with a faint growth of beard. Suits and dress shirts have been replaced by olive military-style garb. His raspy voice betrays exhaustion. Together, these help form a narrative of personal courage, of David fighting mighty Goliath and refusing safe passage out of his homeland — embodied by his line that he needed “ammunition, not a ride.”

It’s all quite a development for a former TV actor and comedian who weeks ago was disdained in some corners as a political novice too eager to seek compromise with Moscow.

“Here’s a guy who was basically considered to be a lightweight, out of his element, about to be crushed by a major superpower next door. And it didn’t happen,” says Andrew J. Polsky, a professor of political science at Hunter College in New York and author of a book on wartime U.S. presidents. “I think people really expected that he would flee ... and I think he surprised people by sharing the danger that they were sharing.”

[...]
 
  • #376
Ukraine latest news: Zelensky says Putin will attack Nato next | The Independent
''Russia will target Nato members next, Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky has warned.

“When the limits of rights and freedoms are being violated and stepped on, then you have to protect us,” he urged Europe. “Because we will come first, you will come second.”

His warning comes as Russia continues to bombard cities across Ukraine, with Kyiv accusing Moscow of breaking a ceasefire agreement on Tuesday by shelling a civilian evacuation route from the besieged city of Mariupol.

Mr Zelensky announced that a child had died of dehydration in Mariupol on Monday as a result of the Russian force’s shelling of the city and their closure of its supply lines. This is the first time someone has died from dehydration in Ukraine since the end of the Second World War, he said.''

''UN reportedly tells staff not to use ‘war’ or ‘invasion’ to describe Putin’s attack on Ukraine
The UN has instructed its staff not to use the words “war” or “invasion” to describe Vladimir Putin’s attacks on Ukraine, it has emerged.

In an email seen by The Irish Times, the UN communications department wrote: “Some specific examples of language to use/not use at the moment.

“[Use] ‘conflict’ or ‘military offensive’ and NOT ‘war’ or ‘invasion’ when referring to the situation in Ukraine.”
 
  • #377
MAR 8, 2022
Odesa Volunteers Build 'Hedgehogs' And Fill Sandbags To Resist Russian Attack (rferl.org) - Video
Hundreds of residents of Ukraine's port city of Odesa worked together to strengthen defenses against Russian forces. Some welders made steel spikes called "hedgehogs" along with razor wire to stop military vehicles. The local yacht club organized the filling of sandbags for barricades and fortifications. By March 8, Odesa was facing food shortages and many people were leaving the city in anticipation of a Russian assault.
 
  • #378
EXPLAINER: What would happen if the US banned Russian oil? | CP24.com
Matthew Daly and Cathy Bussewitz, The Associated Press
March 8, 2022

''Unlike the United States, Europe is deeply reliant on energy it imports from Russia. While the U.S. could replace the relatively small amount of fuel it receives from Moscow, Europe could not, at least not anytime soon.

Here is a deeper look:

WILL THERE BE A BAN ON RUSSIAN OIL?

Amid rising gasoline prices in the U.S. — the average price has topped $4 a gallon for the first time since 2008 — the Biden administration faces growing pressure to impose further sanctions on Russia, including a ban on oil imports. No decision has yet been made.

For now, a broad U.S.-European ban appears elusive. On Monday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz made clear that his country, Europe’s single-largest consumer of Russian energy, has no plans to join in any ban. In response, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman hinted that the U.S. could act alone or with a smaller group of allies.

“We have not been completely identical on all of the sanctions,” Sherman said. “Not every country has done exactly the same thing, but we have all reached a threshold that is necessary to impose the severe costs that we have all agreed to.”

Though U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has raised the possibility of a ban on imported Russian oil, Sherman noted, “he also said that we have to maintain a supply of oil,” perhaps through other means, to stabilize prices.

Even if a ban were enacted, the Biden administration and Congress “remain laser-focused on bringing down the higher energy costs for American families and our partners stemming from Putin’s invasion,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said.

Pelosi, who has expressed support for a U.S. ban on Russian oil, nevertheless also cited Biden’s action in leading U.S. allies to release 60 million barrels of oil from strategic reserves, including 30 million barrels from U.S. reserves, to try to stabilize global markets.

WHAT HAPPENS IF THE U.S. ACTS ALONE?

If the U.S. alone were to ban imports of Russian oil and refined products, the impact on Moscow would likely be minimal. The United States imports a small share of Russia’s oil exports and doesn’t buy any of Moscow’s natural gas.

The United States imports about 100,000 barrels a day from Russia, only about 5% of Russia’s crude oil exports, according to Rystad Energy. Last year, roughly 8% of U.S. imports of oil and petroleum products came from Russia.

The U.S. could replace Russian crude with imports from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. For its part, Russia might find alternative buyers for that fuel, perhaps in China or India. Such a step “would introduce massive inefficiency in the market,” which escalates prices, said Claudio Galimberti, senior vice president of analysis at Rystad Energy.''
 
  • #379
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